Malaysia Victory Over Vietnam: Malaysia’s national football team, Harimau Malaya, made headlines with a stunning 4–0 win against Vietnam in the Asian Cup 2027 Group F qualifier at Bukit Jalil Stadium. This victory marks Malaysia’s first win over Vietnam in over a decade.
Match Highlights:
- João Figueiredo opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a deflected shot.
- Rodrigo Holgado added the second goal in the 58th minute.
- La’Vere Corbin-Ong struck in the 67th minute.
- Dion Cools sealed the win with a goal in the 89th minute.
With this win, Malaysia now tops Group F with 6 points, ahead of Vietnam, Laos, and Nepal.
Naturalised Players Make an Impact
The starting lineup featured nine naturalised or heritage players. These include debutants and newly registered stars like Figueiredo, Holgado, Cools, Corbin-Ong, Irazabal, Garcés, and Machuca. Their inclusion played a key role in Malaysia’s high-energy, well-organized performance.
Coach’s Reaction
Malaysia’s head coach Peter Cklamovski praised the squad’s discipline, fitness, and hunger. He credited their success to tactical halftime adjustments, video analysis, and structured preparations that focused on counter-attacks and defensive compactness.
Growing Depth in Malaysian Squad
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) recently announced several heritage player call-ups including Spanish-born Jon Irazabal, Argentine Imanol Machuca, Rodrigo Holgado, Facundo Garcés, Brazilian João Figueiredo, and Dutch-born Hector Hevel and Gabriel Palmero. This reflects Malaysia’s strategy to bolster its squad depth ahead of key international fixtures.
Malaysia Super League Update
On the domestic front, Johor Darul Ta’zim continues to dominate the Malaysia Super League, having secured their 11th consecutive title. The team remains unbeaten and continues to set the standard for Malaysian club football.
Looking ahead, the Piala Sumbangsih (Charity Shield) featuring Johor Darul Ta’zim and Selangor is scheduled for August.
Malaysia are currently top of Group F with six points, while Vietnam and Laos are in second and third with three points each, and Nepal sit winless at the bottom.
